Nearly 700 Pounds of Cocaine Seized in Massive Long Island Drug Bust

Major Drug Bust on Long Island

• 🚨 Nearly 700 pounds of cocaine, valued at an estimated $20 million, were discovered in a car in Plainview, Nassau County.
• 🎯 The seizure, involving 312 kilos of cocaine, is being called one of the largest drug busts on record for Long Island.

Arrests and Charges

• 👥 Two men, 40-year-old Michael Vieiraa and 35-year-old Daniel Santana, have been arrested and charged.
• ⚖️ Initial charges include criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first and third degree, with prosecutors seeking to upgrade them to include drug trafficking due to the quantity.

Investigation Details

• 🔍 Narcotics officers were conducting surveillance in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn when they observed what appeared to be a drug sale.
• 🚗 Upon approaching the suspects' truck, officers discovered cocaine in the front seat and subsequently found the large quantity in the trunk.

Suspect Background and Ongoing Investigation

• 📍 Vieira and Santana are from Dania Beach, Florida, and reportedly have prior homicide charges from Puerto Rico.
• ❓ The investigation is ongoing, with authorities seeking to determine the source of the cocaine.
• 🏠 Residents expressed shock and concern over the significant amount of drugs found in their community.